Disclaimer: Don't own. Wow, what a surprise . . .
Author's Note: Thank you Ebony, and Rujutoshi for actually REVIEWING the first chapter, it was much appreciated.
Speak To Me Of FreedomBy: Sharys Aogail
Chapter 2
He drifted like a restless ghost, his feet slowly dragging his battered body away from the others. His warm brown eyes grew dull as they saw more and more of the carnage, his heart numb in response to the massive loss of life.
The field looked like Hell's tomb. The grassy area surrounding the creek was now scorched black, and huge sections of dirt were now displaced, creating smoldering mounds of earth. Mangled bodies and discarded weapons littered the ground, some of the corpses burned or crushed. Most of them were no more than a matted tangle of limbs and blood, while others were charred beyond all recognition.
The elemental charge had killed everyone. Vahlkran . . . Jantan . . . it didn't matter anymore. Yusuke had awakened some hours later; his body throbbing and half buried under rocks and scorched earth. The hallowed-out creek had provided some cover, but it shouldn't have been enough to make a difference.
It was a miracle Yusuke had survived.
In the silence, a small rasping noise caught his attention. After a moment of searching, he found a woman in the wreckage, her mouth moving as if to speak. She lay sprawled over two other bodies, the three forms creating an insane tangle of blood and limbs. She lay gasping for breath, blood spilling from her trembling lips.
Half of her side was missing.
"H . . .he's coming!" she breathed, eyes wild. "They're here . . ! Wait . . . dear gods wait . . ."
Yusuke just watched as she thrashed briefly, until her eyes found him and she grew still. She reached out to him with a bloodied arm. Mind now completely numb, he stepped forward and kneeled beside her. As he clasped her outstretched hand he noticed the small mark branded on the inside of her arm; a thick black cross inscribed within a heavy circle.
The Vahlkran mage-brand.
She gripped his hand like a vice, her voice suddenly stronger and more insistent. "He's here, he's here! Can't you see him? It's bright, so bright . . ."
Yusuke felt a wave of sympathy. She's delusional, he realized.
"Not . . . yet!" Her chest suddenly spasmed, and her eyes clenched shut. When she opened them, Yusuke could have sworn that they held a violet gleam. He jerked when she suddenly grabbed his face harshly, but fell deathly still when her voice drifted through his mind, the words rapid but clear. Listen, listen! He's here! He shall know what we did not, and Death will send Darkness to hunt him. Even when bound, the Dragon and the Phoenix will become blinded and part. Aided by the Dead Prince, he will be rewarded by the one who fears him most. Lost . . . he's lost! No! Listen to me! The Dragon . . . the Dragon is in the Shadow's Den . . . please . . . don't . . .
The gleam in her eyes faded, and her hold slipped away. Gasping, Yusuke scrambled back, watching warily as the woman fell still, her body finally collapsing in on itself. Breathing hard, Yusuke stared blankly at the dead mage, her last words echoing in his head.
Don't leave him.
oOoOo
Branches swirled in and out of his vision, becoming a kaleidoscope of golds and greens before phasing out to a muted black. His mind felt as blurry as his vision, making it hard to concentrate on more than one thing at a time. His breathing was slow and shallow, every tiny movement causing his chest to ache dully.
And his head was pounding . . .
. . . hear me? Focus! Come on, talk to me!
A sweet, and quite feminine, voice quivered in his mind, overrun with worry. He shook his head to rid himself of it and was rewarded with a sharp stab of pain directly to his temple. Oddly enough, the pain helped ground his thoughts enough to realize that the voice was familiar.
Please!
He gathered his wits a little more and reached out to the voice, feeling the warmth of one mind brushing another. The other let out a relieved cry.
Thank the gods! Now try to remember. What happened?
In small flashes he recalled his mission. The target. The kill. The shock wave. The searing heat from the explosion that rivaled his own summoned blazes. The other flinched as she received the images, but did not comment.
He lay there a few minutes longer, waiting for his mind to clear. Realizing that remaining where he was could be potentially dangerous, he rolled over onto his stomach. He bit back a scream.
His arm was broken.
What happened? Are you alright? Hey!
He swallowed hard and formed a reply. It's alright. I'll be fine in a moment.
Gritting his teeth he dragged his good limbs beneath him, and struggled to push himself to his feet. Once standing his vision tilted, forcing him to brace himself on the tree behind him. He growled in frustration.
At this rate, he wasn't going anywhere.
Relax for a moment then. You need to take care of your wounds anyway.
It was then that he heard a small rustle of movement to the side. Reaching for his katana, the Shade glared at the intruder, red eyes flashing dangerously.
There was a long pause, and then a young soldier stepped into view, with two gleaming revolvers focused intently on the Shade. The aim was true and steady, telling of the young man's experience even without a shot being fired. His dark green uniform clearly labeled him as one of Jantay's little lapdogs.
Ignoring the pain lancing through his arm and chest, he pushed away from the tree and slid into a defensive stance. Blood dripped into his eyes and his body throbbed, but he refused to flinch, not daring to lose sight of his enemy. The Shade silently prayed that the Jantan would move on.
The Shade watched closely as the Jantan seemed to have an argument with himself, his brown eyes flickering every now and then. Almost uncertain.
With a frustrated sigh, the Jantan slowly lowered his weapons, making the movement as deliberate as possible. "Hey, look I don't want to fight," he said irritably, sliding his guns into twin holsters strapped to his thighs.
What the hell? The Shade asked himself.
Is something wrong?
When the Jantan took a tiny step forward, the Shade's reaction was instantaneous. His katana had been drawn, and was held at the ready in a clear warning. The Jantan blanched, and held up now-empty hands. "Hey! I said I didn't want to fight! I just want to help."
Unconvinced, the Shade growled, then hid a wince as a spike of pain shot through his ribs. "Want to help? Keep the hell away from me."
The younger man's eyes narrowed, before he defiantly took another step forward.
"I said keep back!" In a sudden fury, the Shade gathered all his remaining energy into a concentrated barrier and then flung it out towards the arrogant fool. With a yelp of surprise, the Jantan brought up his hands just in time to meet the barrier, shouting as the energy burned his skin.
Then the impossible happened.
Seconds after contact, the barrier snapped, causing all the energy to backlash into the caster. The Shade was thrown back, the magic overloading both his body and mind.
What happened? Answer me! Hiei?
Slowly his conscious faded out, his sister's panicked voice rang in his mind.
Hiei!
oOoOo
Author's Note: Alright people, this is how it works, I don't update unless I get at least one new review (though more would be appreciated and acknowledged) per posted chapter. So if you do like the story, and want more of it, let me know and I would be happy to oblige. Not all chapters will be this short, I assure you.